Painting Credit: Alanna De La Cruz
I woke up again with my cheeks sore
bones still stiff from the way they held up
my countenance in a mood of bliss
an un-calculated mood
that allowed me to fall asleep
lids closed,
lips pressed together
and softly lifted
Eyebrows relaxed
forehead no longer creased
So my pulse continued beating to the relief I felt.
Insecurity became quiet
It felt strange, weird to be: Comfortable
To be reconfigured as light beams that took time to
decorate the outer layer of my brown-sugared skin
To be redesigned as WOKE,
as beautiful spelled out from
the crown of my head to the
soles of my feet
Who painted me?
It's Permanent.
Who tattooed me?
Tippy-toes pointed, made me taller as I extended my black silhouette
into the depths of the sky
I choose to be accepted.
I curled my frame,
framing U closer to my core as L took the lead and
B became the base of a strong foundation
My body loved the way BEAUTIFUL became an accent
no matter the direction I turned
Louder was happiness
Louder was it okay to be free
To sway, to dance, to whine, to shake, to arch, to pray
My pulse matched my heart's symphony as both harmonized
the way
Lids closed
Lips pressed together
and softly lifted
Eyebrows relaxed
Forehead no longer creased
Dreamy, I imagined you writing the words I and AM and LOVE.
-Arnelle W.
bones still stiff from the way they held up
my countenance in a mood of bliss
an un-calculated mood
that allowed me to fall asleep
lids closed,
lips pressed together
and softly lifted
Eyebrows relaxed
forehead no longer creased
So my pulse continued beating to the relief I felt.
Insecurity became quiet
It felt strange, weird to be: Comfortable
To be reconfigured as light beams that took time to
decorate the outer layer of my brown-sugared skin
To be redesigned as WOKE,
as beautiful spelled out from
the crown of my head to the
soles of my feet
Who painted me?
It's Permanent.
Who tattooed me?
Tippy-toes pointed, made me taller as I extended my black silhouette
into the depths of the sky
I choose to be accepted.
I curled my frame,
framing U closer to my core as L took the lead and
B became the base of a strong foundation
My body loved the way BEAUTIFUL became an accent
no matter the direction I turned
Louder was happiness
Louder was it okay to be free
To sway, to dance, to whine, to shake, to arch, to pray
My pulse matched my heart's symphony as both harmonized
the way
Lids closed
Lips pressed together
and softly lifted
Eyebrows relaxed
Forehead no longer creased
Dreamy, I imagined you writing the words I and AM and LOVE.
-Arnelle W.
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